Steam-pressure gage.



c. OSTERMANN. STEAM PRESSURE GAGE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1907.

918,900. Patented Apr. 20, 1909 PANT onion G'USTAVE C. OSTERMANN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SYRACUSE STEAM GAUGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. A CORPORATION OF -NEW YORK.

STEAM-IERESSURE GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To alljwhom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, GUsTAvE C. OsTER- MANN, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam- Pressure Gages, of which the following, taken in-connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in steam pressure gages involving the use of a hollow segmental spring having one end fixed and communicating with the steam inlet and its other end closed and free to move radially under the pressure of the steam and connected to a sultable indicating finger to actuate the latter around a dial.

I am aware that it is common to employ a single hollow segmental spring extending through the greater 'ortion of a circle in which the free close end extends downwardly to a plane some distance below the highest 'pointof the segment thereby forming a pocket in which the water of condensation accumulates and becomes permanently retained therein so that during freezing weather when the steam pressure is low, the water in the pocket freezes and bursts the adjacent portion of the spring thus impairing the device to such an extent as to necessitate frequent repairs if not its replacement by a new spring. Furthermore it is found that this pocket of water detracts to a perceptible degree from the sensitivencss of the spring under low steam pressure.

My main object, therefore, is to avoid these objectionable results by terminating the free end of .the spring segment at substantially the highest point of its are thereby allowing the water of condensationto readily flow back through the inlet as the temperature and steam pressure lowers and thus avoiding any freezing or bursting of any part of the segment.

' Another object is to provide for the adjustment ofthe connection between the free end of the spring and actuating mechanism for moving the index finger whereby the throw of the spring under predetermined pressure may be made to correspond with that indicated by the finger u on the dial.

Other objects and uses will e brought out in the following description.

In thedrawmgsl 1gure 1 is a front elevation of a steam gage embodying the various features of'my invention, portions of the to show interior mechanism. Fig. 2 1s a Fatented Apri1'20, 1909.

glass plate and dial pla'te being broken away similar face view partly in section showing the glass plate and dial plate as removed and also showing the hollow spring segment in section. rig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1, and Pig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4, Fig, 2.

As shown in the drawings this device comprises essentially a circular case or housing 1- having its front end open and threaded externally for receiving a bezel or threaded ring -2, the latter being adapted to receive and support a glass plate 3. The front interior portion of the case 1 is provided with inwardly rojecting lugs or cars 4 and 5- whic in this instance are located diametrically opposite each other for, receiving and supporting a thin dial 6 having a circular row of graduations u on its front face whichare properly marke( to indicate the number of pounds per square inch of'steam pressure exerted in the boiler or other steam chamber to which the gage is attached.

The bottom side of the case 1 is formed with an aperture --7- through which is passed a threaded nipple -8- adapted to be screwed to any pipe or steam chamber not shown, the inner end of said nipple being provided with an enlargement or head 9.which is secured to the boss 4- by suitable fastening means as screws -10.

The tubular nipple -8 is provided with a central lengthwise passage 11 having a lateral off set -12 communicating at one end with a hollow segmental spring 13, said spring being usually of greater transverse width than radial depth and is sub-. stantially semi-circular in form, its open end being rigidly secured to the head -9 in communication with the lateral passa e 2' while its upper end terminates at su stantially the highest point in its arc and is closed by a suitable plug or cap -14 which together with the remaining portions of the spring are spaced apart from the interior walls of the casing and mechanisms actuated thereby to allow ample radial movement 01' extension of the free end of the spring under steam pressure. The particular feature of this part of my invention is that the spring is substantially semi circular and that it terminates at substantially the highest point of its -20 and iary bar 23 and free end of the cap or plug are to prevent tllC'fOIlllittlOl] of a water pocket and to allow the waterof condensation to readily flow back through the inlet -ll This spring is normally concentric with the axis of the casing 1- and also with the axis of a central shaft or spindle which is arranged in a horizontal position and is j ournaled in upright supporting arn.s -16- rising from and secured at their lower end to the head 9.

Secured to thespindle -I5 between the arms 16 is-a pinion 17 meshing with a segmental toothed rack 18- which is formed upon one arm of a bell crank lever --19*-, t ie latter being pivoted upon a supporting spindle 20 resting in the base of the arms -16- The bell crank -19- lies wholly below the pinion -l7, the toothed rack being formed on the upper end of one of the arnis while the lower arm is provided with a clamping screw or stud -21- which enters a slot 22 in an adjustable arm -23, the latter being connected by an upright link -24 to the head or cap 14 on the free endof the spring 13-'-. The slotted arm -22 receives the pivotal pin The lower and upperends of the link' -24- are pivoted respectively to the auxil- 14-- by suitable pivotal and -29, the bar 23 place forming an adjustable part of the bell crank lever and permits the adjustment of the lower end of the link -24 relative to the fulcrum 20 to vary the leverage bescrews -28 tweenthe free end of the spring 13- and bell crank lever so that the movement of the spring 13 under a given steam pressure may cause a corresponding movement of the index finger -25 to the proper graduation upon the dial -6-.

In operation, steam is admitted through the inlet '11 to the hollow spring -13- and operatesto distend or expand the segalso the clamping screw 21 when secured in ment more or less according to the pressure, the greater movement being imparted to the free end of the segment which in turn trhnsmits similar motion to the pinion -17- and index finger -25- through the medium of the link 24, the bell crank lever -19 and toothed rack I8-, thereby causing theindex finger 25- to travel around the graduations on the dial 6- to indicate the degree of steam ressure per square inch exerted at the in ct 11 or within. the boiler or .steam chamber to which the gage is attached.

The essential feature of the invention, however, lies in the termination of the free end of the spring segment at the highest point of its are so as to avoid water pockets and erniit the water of condensation to flow ack'through the inlet and in additionto this the adjustment of the connections between the free end of the spring and bell crank upon which the toothed rack for operating the pinion is mounted.

What I claim is:

In a steam age, a circular case having an opening in its bottom, a threaded nipple extending through said opening and provided with a head secured to the bottom of the casing, said' nipple being provided with a steam inlet passage, a air of arms secured to and rising from the lead, a dial secured in the frontside of the case, a spindle journaled in the arms, an index linger secured to the spindle and movable around said dial as the spindle is rotated, a nnion on the spindle between said arms, a. bell crank lever fulcrumed u on and between said arms below the spind e and having an upright arm pro vided with a toothed rack engaging with said .pinion, said bell crank lever having a lower arm extending laterally from thefulcrum, an auxiliary arm adjustably secured to said lower arm, a hollow segmental spring having its lower end secured to the head and communicatin g with the inlet, said spring rising from the head substantially concentric with the spindle and havin its 11 per end terminating at approximately the ugliest point of its are, and a link connecting the upper end of said spring with the adjustable arm of the bell crank lever.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of October 1907.

GUSIAVE (.1. ()STElth MN N. Witnesses:

I H. E. CuAsE,

U. M. hlCCORMACK. 

